Coating apparatus



June 7, 1932. I J RAY 1,861,666

COATING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 7, 1932. E. J. RAY

COATING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet June 7, 1932. E RAY' 1,861,666

COATING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet. 3

the work,

Patented June 7, 1932 STATES Parent EUGENE J. RAY, 6F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHIN- ERY CORIPGRATION, OF PETERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY COATING APPARATUS Application filed May 9,

My invention relates to apparatus for ap- .plying a coating to work-pieces. An example of the work for which the apparatus is particularly adapted is furnished by the 1g} blanks of felt or like material for box-toes of shoes, which blanksare tohave placed upon them a heavy pitchy substance, which, after it has set, may later be softened by heat to cause the blanks to conform to the toes of shoes being lasted, so they will retain their of the character just indicated heavily upon 51 one or both sides and by a simple and efficient apparatus. 1 accomplish this by combining with a tank or receptacle for the coating substance, coating-applying plates or members arranged to contact with opposite :sides of together with means for holding the members separted from each other within the coating substance, for moving these members into and out of the substance and, in the last-mentioned position, into contact is with interposed work. The applying mem bers are thus capable of receiving from the supply in the'receptac'le a comparatively thick Z a er of'the coating substance, whichis thereafter transterredto the work. I have shown the coating members as carried by oscillatory arms, with each of which co-operate's a rotatable actuating member, .as a cam, these actuating members imparting to the applying members the desired relative movements.

5 lfhere is preferably associated with the applying members a pressure member co-operating with the work. This pressure member may be mounted and actuated in a manner similar to the applying members. It is shown as heated, to avoid the gathering upon it or" the coating substance. By moving the pressure member with one of the applying members toward the work and then maintaining it atterth'e withdrawal of saidapp-lyiii-g members, the work may be prevented provided. If it is desired to have upon 1-930. Serial No. 451,151.

one side of the Work a coating less thick than on the other, a scraper may be mounted in the receptacle, over which'scrape-r each workpiece may be drawn as it is removed from between the applying members. A recess in the front of the receptacle allows the operator to grasp effectively the work-piece for its presentation to and removal from the applying members. The receptacle isp-reierably heated, to give the necessary fluidity to the coating substance, and the recess also enables the operator to keep his'hand away from the hot receptacle-wall, and reduces the danger of burns from spatter'ing of the coating substance. One or more gage members, which,a-s shown, are adjustable to adapt them to position different sizes of work-pieces, are shown as associated with the receptacle.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a specific embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a top plan View of my improved apparatus;

2, a side elevation looking from the right in'Fig. '1, with parts broken away 7 Figs. and 4, broken sectional details of the elements more closely associated with the work, these, respectively, showing the workpiece-coating and the work-.piece-withdrawing relations; and

Fig, 5 shows a top plan View of the lower and upper applying plates positioned out of a linement with each other.

Assuming that sti lieningpieces for the toes of shoes are to be coated, such a piece appears at Sin Fig. lot the drawings. The toe-portions, prior to welting, are sometimes shaped by being molded under the influenceof heat, and it may be desirable to keep "the toe compa'ratvely soft, in which case it is convenient to stilien the pieces S only over a crescentlike area at the front marginal portion. This, after the pieces have been treated with pitch or other thermoplastic substance and molded with applied heat, will sutiicie'ntly hold the shape ofthe toe-portion of the lasted upper, so it need'not be wired for the welti-ng operation.

For coating work of the character and in the manner described above, 1 provides tank for the substance to be applied. This is be made clear.

shown as generally rectangular in horizontal section, is supported upon legs 12 and is adapted to be mounted upon a bench. To keep the contents of this receptacle in condition for application to the work, electrical heating units 14 may be placed at the under side. At the front of the tank is arecess, as appears at 16, for a purpose which will later From the rear of the tank, at the opposite side, project arms or brackets 18,18. X

Carried in the outer extremities of the tank-brackets is a horizontal spindle20, and arranged to turn about this are arms 22, 2e and 26, spaced from one another and held against lateral movement by elongated hubs 28 contacting with one another and by endcollars 30, 30. Secured upon the arm 22 is a lower applying plate 82 (Fig. 2) having its forward, active portion elongated transversely of the tank and extending to the right as viewed in Fig. 5. Above, and vertically alined with it, is a similar co-operating applying plate 34 carried by and extending to the left of the arm 26. Both plates may be recessed at 36, this depression corresponding substantially in curvature to that of the tank-recess 16. They are connected to their respective supporting arms by relatively narrow portions 33 containing perforations 35, which, by allowing the coating substance to pass through them, will prevent it from gathering in such quantities upon the upper surfaces of theplates as to flow over the edges toward the work-piece. Such a flow would tend to deposit an unduly heavy line of the substance along the margin of the coated area. When the toe-stiffening piece is placed in the apparatus between the plates, their areas of contact therewith are as illustrated in Fig. 1, the curve at 36 being approximately concentric to the forward extremity of the piece being operated upon, so a band of substantially uniform width is applied about said extremity. Upon the center arm 2a is a pressure or retaining member furnished by a bar or vertically extending plate 88. The bar appears as corresponding in form to the forward edges of the plates 32 and 34, lying just in front of the latter and spaced from the adjacent wall of the tank, it being movable by its arm into close proximity to the upper edge of a scraper-bar 40, which extends across the tank, to the walls of which it is fastened. Since the coating substance might tend to accumulate upon the lower contact edge of the bar 38, daubing the work outside the area to be coated and causing excessive adhesion to it, I prefer to mount a heating unit 4C1 in the arm 24 adjacent to said bar. This maintains the gathering substance fluid, so it freely drips off and clears the bar. In horizontal section, the bars 38 and 40 are similar in contour and are vertically alined. Journaled in the lower partof the brackets 18 is a horizontal shaft 42, upon which are fast three cams 44, one for each of the arms 22, 24 and 26. Rolls 16, rotatable upon the arms, rest on the cams, the contact being maintained either by gravity or by springs 43. The shaft 42 may be rotated by a crank 48 or by power otherwise applied to turn the cams, the shapes of the periperies of which are designed to impart to the two applying plates and to the pressure-bar the movements of reciprocation at different rates outlined in the statement of operation of the apparatus.

The upper surface 50 of the front wall of the tank is preferably approximately level with the corresponding edge of the bar 10,and this, with two shelves 52, 52 secured to the side walls of the tank, furnish supporting surfaces for the work in the same plane .as the surface 50. Upon these supporting surfaces each piece of work is laid for its coating, being correctly located by gages 54, 5 1 attached to the upper faces of the shelves and arranged for contact with their gaging surfaces of the rear corners of the stiffening pieces S. These pieces may differ in size, and, to properly present them to the applying members, the gages are preferably adjustable. I have shown in each gage a slot inclined at approximately 45 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and of the stiffening piece from front to rear when it is in place upon the apparatus. In each of these slots are three enlargements 58. Through each slot passes a pin 60 slidable vertically in a shelf 52, the stem of which will enter the slot, while beneath its upper end or head 64 is a cylindrical portion of such diameter that it will be received only in the slot-enlargements. vA. spring (36, interposed between the lower extremity of each pin and the under side of the shelf, holds the head and enlarged portion normally down, with the latter in one of the enlargements 58. When it is desired to change the position of a gage, the pin is grasped by the head and raised against the force of the spring, this drawing the enlarged portion out of the slot-enlargement which it has occupied. The gage is then shifted to bring the desired enlargement into alinement with the enlarged portion of thepin, and the head released, so that the spring draws the pin down to lock the gage in its new position. In this adjusting movement, the gage may be guided by a depending vertical pin 68 fixed in the gage and projecting into a slot 56 in the shelf. Slotand-screw connections 70 between the shelves and tank-walls permit bodily adjustment of the gages longitudinally of the tank.

Considering the operation of the apparatus, the gages being adjusted in acordance with the particular size of toe-stiffening piece or other work to be coated, one of these pieces is laid in a horizontal position upon the surfaces ofiered at 40, 50 and 52, 52, with its forward crescent-like portion overhanging the interior of the receptacle. The depression 16 enables the operator to firmly grasp the workpiece without bringing his hand unduly close to the hot wall of the tank. At the time of application of the work, the crank 48 will be at such an angle that the workengaging elements 32, 34 and 38 are situated as appears in Fig. 2. The previous operation will have supplied the plates with the coating substance, as a result of their immersion in. the tank, where it is held in a fluid condition by the heat of the units 14. The bot tom plate 32 is at this time beneath the surface of the coating substance, and the upper 3 in its highest position. This leaves the plane of insertionof the work clear, the pressure member 38 being also at its upper limit. With the work in place, the crank is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2. The plate 32 rises, and when it has reached an angle with relation to the workapproximately the same as that of-the plate 34, the latter descends. The pressure member 38 may move somewhat in advance of the plate 3%, reaching the work first and holding it against the bar 40. The plates thereupon together engage the opposite sides of the work, transferring to it their loads of the coating substance. This occurs somewhat before the crank has been turned. through 180, the elements being as illustrated in Fig. 3. At the 180 position of the crank, the plates 32 and 34 have separated (Fig. 4), the member 38 remaining down to retain the work from being drawn up by adhesion to the plate 34. Said work cannot follow the plate 32 because of the support provided by the bar 40. The crank is stopped in. this position and the work withdrawn. If the operator wishes a lighter coating upon one surface than upon the other, to prevent, for example, the coating substance from striking through the lining of a shoe, he forces the piece, as he pulls it toward him, down against the bar 40. This scrapes the excess from the under side, leaving the upper heavily coated to give the requisite stiffening effect. Continued rotation of the crank, after the piece has been thus withdrawn, first carries down both applying plates, they being ield separated while within the coating substance in the tank, this preventing interference with the taking on of a comparatively heavy layer over their adjacentfaces. The pressure member rises to its initial position, and the plates, after their immersion, are returned to normal, the lower remaining in the coating substance, and the upper being above the work-supporting surfaces. The apparatus is now in condition for the succeeding operation.

aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, a pairoff'applying members movable into and out ofsaid receptacle and arranged for contact with opposite sides of the work, and means for moving themembers into and out of the substance constructed and arranged to hold: the members separated from each other while within the coating substance'in the receptacle and in the position out of the receptacle then to move them into contact with an interposed piece of work.

2. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, coacting applying members mounted for movement into and out of said receptacle and arranged for contact with opposite sides of the work, means for moving the members into and out of the substance constructed and arranged to hold the members separated from each other while within the coating substance in the receptacle and in the position out of'the receptacle then to move them into contact with an interposed piece of work, a scraper mounted upon, the receptacle adjacent to the coating members, and means for pressing a work piece against said scraperduring recessional movement of an applying member.

3.. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, overlappingzreciprocatory applying members arranged for contact with opposite sides of a piece of work, means for moving one of the members-into and out of the coating substance, and means for moving the other member into and out of the coating substance in time relation to the movement of the first-mentioned members, therebyto hold the members separated from each other when within the coating substance.

4. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, reciprocatory applying members arranged for contact with opposite sides of a piece of work, movable means for supporting one of the members for movement into and out of the coating substance, movable means for supporting the other member for movement into and out of the coating substance, and a common actuator for said means arranged to move the members at different rates thereby to hold the members separated from each other when within the coating substance.

5,. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, two oscillatory arms mounted upon the receptacle, opposite overlapping applying members one carried by each arm, and means individual to each arm for moving the member which it carries into and out of the receptacle and into engagement with a piece of work.

6. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, twooscillatory arms pivoted upon the receptacle, overlapping applying members one carried by each arm for application to opposite sides of a single piece of work, and a rotatable actuating member for each arm moving said applying members into and out of the receptacle and into contact with a piece of work.

7. An apparatus for coating stifiening pieces for the toes of shoes comprising a tank for a thermoplastic substance, a spindle mounted upon the tank, two arms arranged to turn about said spindle, an applying plate carried by each arm, said plates being arranged one above the other for contact with opposite sides of a piece of work, a powershaft journaled adjacent to the receptacle, and cams fixed to the shaft and respectively co-operating with the arms.

8. A coating apparatus comprising a re ceptacle for a coating substance, coacting applying members movable into and out of the receptacle and into and out of contact with opposite sides of a piece of work, and a movable pressure member co-operating with said piece of work.

9. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, coacting applying members movable into and out of the receptacle and into and out of contact with opposite sides of a piece of work, a movable pressure member co-operating with the work, means for moving the applying members oppositely toward the work, and means for moving the pressure member in the same direction as one of the coating members into engagement with the work.

10. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, applying members movable into and out of the receptacle and arranged for contact with opposite sides of the work, a movable pressure member cooperating with the work, and a common means for holding the applying members separated from each other while within the coating substance in the receptacle, for moving the members into and out of the substance and in the last-mentioned position into contact with an interposed piece of work and for moving the pressure member into and out of contact with the work, said means being constructed and arranged to maintain the contact of said pressure member with the work after the withdrawal of the applying members from the work.

11. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a coating substance, oscillatory arms mounted upon the receptacle, opposed applying members for simultaneous application to opposite sides of a piece of work carried by two' of the arms, a pressure-bar carried by a third arm, and means individual to each arm for moving the applying members into and out of the receptacle and the pres,- sure member into and out of engagement with thework in predetermined sequence.

J2. An apparatus for coating stiffening pieces for the toes of shoes comprising a tank for a thermoplastic substance, a spindle mounted upon the tank, arms arranged to turn about the spindle, applying plates carried by two of the arms, said plates being arranged one above the other for application to opposite sides of a piece of work, a pressure-bar carried by a third arm, a powershaftjournaled upon the tank, and cams fixed to the shaft and respectively cooperating with the arms.

13. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating substance, said receptacle having a surface arranged to support a work-piece with a portion overhanging the receptacle, and opposite applying members movable into and out of the coating substance in the receptacle and into contact with opposite sides of the work supported upon the receptacle.

14. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating substance, said receptacle having a surface arranged to support a work-piece with a portion overhanging the receptacle, a scraper mounted upon the receptacle, and op posite applying members movable adjacent to the scraper into and out of the coating substance in the receptacle and into contact with opposite sides of the work supported upon the receptacle.

15. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating substance, said receptacle having a surface arranged to support a work-piece with a portion overhanging the receptacle, opposite applying members movable into and out of the coating substance in the receptacle and into contact with opposite sides of the work supported upon the receptacle, and a scraper mounted upon the receptacle between the supporting surface and applying members.v

16. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating substance, said receptacle having a surface arranged to support a work-piece wit-h a portion overhanging the receptacle, opposite applying members movable into and out of the coating substance in the receptacle and into contact with opposite sides of the work supported upon the receptacle, and a pressure member movable against the supported work. g

17 In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating substance, said receptacle having a surface arranged to support a workpiece with a portion overhanging the receptacle, a scraper mounted upon the receptacle, opposite applying members movable into and out of the coating substance in the receptacle and into contact with opposite sides of the work supported upon the receptacle, and a pressure member movable against the supported work above and in vertical alinement with the scraper.

18. A coating apparatus for applying a coating substance to work pieces having convex forward edges, comprising a tank for a coating substance, said tank being provided with a surface arranged to support a work-piece, there being a recess in the tank-wall adjacent to the supporting surface, and applying members movable into and out of the tank and having concave edges adjacent to the recessed wall.

19. A coating apparatus for applying a coating substance to work pieces having convex forward edges, comprising a tank for a coating substance, said tank being provided with a surface arranged to support a work-piece, there being a curved recess in the tank-wall adjacent to the supporting surface, applying members 1novable into and out of the receptacle and having concave edges adjacent to the recessed wall thereby to coat crescent-like areas on said pigizps, and heating means associated with the ta 20. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating substance, said receptacle having a surface arranged to support a workpiece with a portion overhanging the receptacle, a gage member situated outside a wall of the receptacle, and opposite applying members movable into and out of the coating substance in'the receptacle and into contact with opposite sides of the work supported upon the receptacle.

21. A coating apparatus comprising a tank for a coating substance, said tank being provided with a surface arranged to support a work-piece, there being a. recess in the tank wall adjacent to the supporting surface, gage members situated at opposite sides of the recess, and applying members movable into and out of the tank adjacent to the recessed wall.

22. A coating apparatus comprising a tank for a coating substance, applying members movable into and out of the coating substance and into contact with opposite sides of the work, a shelf at the front of the tank, a gage member mounted upon the shelf and provided with a series of connected openings, and a pin yieldable upon the shelf and arranged to occupy any one of the openings.

23. An apparatus for coating stiffening pieces for the toes of shoes comprising a tank or a thermoplastic substance, applying members movable into and out of said substance and into contact with opposite sides of the stiffening pieces, shelves at the front of the tank arranged to support opposite edges of the stiffening pieces, and a gage member adjustable upon each shelf and arranged to cate the stiffening pieces with respect to the applying members.

24. A coating apparatus comprising a receptacle for a. coating substance, an applying member movable into and out of the receptacle and into and out of contact with the upper side of a piece of work supported on the receptacle, a movable pressure member cooperating with the upper side of the work, and means for heating said pressure member.

25. In a coating apparatus, a frame com- 

